Video displaying scenes from The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens, a Life Plan Community in Fresno, California

Jean

An Impact on Conservation and Community

Looking Out for Farm Life & Wildlife

Jean has a lasting impact on conservation and community.

Born in Fresno and raised on a 20-acre dairy farm in Madera, Jean grew up riding horses, driving tractors and caring for livestock. The rhythm of farm life instilled discipline, resilience and a deep respect for animals — values that would shape the rest of her life.

That lifelong love of animals eventually became deeply intertwined with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Jean was married to her late husband, Dr. Paul Chaffee, a respected zoo veterinarian and former director of the zoo. After his passing, Jean made sure his legacy — and her own growing passion for wildlife and conservation — would continue in meaningful ways.

She became a longtime docent and now serves as the zoo’s historian, preserving and sharing the stories that shaped the Fresno Chaffee Zoo over the past century. Immersing herself in its archives, she documented its growth, transformation and conservation impact.

That work inspired her to author seven children’s books. Her recent adult book is Apes to Zebras to Nosey:100 Years at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Through school visits, Rotary presentations and community events, she continues to educate and inspire young readers about wildlife, conservation and the zoo’s history.

But perhaps her most enduring contribution is the scholarship program she founded in Dr. Chaffee’s honor. Over the past 10 years, more than 40 students pursuing veterinary science, zoology and related fields have received financial support to follow their dreams.

“I’m still working,” Jean says with a smile. “Just without pay.”

And living at The Terraces has given her the freedom to continue to work without worrying about her future and has also given her other ways to stay active in this next chapter of life.

She walks two miles daily with her dog, Zuri — named for her love of Africa and wildlife conservation. She attends shows and musical performances on community trips. She serves at her church. And she remains actively involved with the zoo, her scholarship program and her writing.

“I keep waiting to get bored,” she laughs. “It hasn’t happened yet.”

That peace of mind allows her to focus on what matters most: continuing her work with the zoo and investing in the next generation of animal advocates and scientists.

“My daughter had moved away from the area, and my son travels frequently, so I knew I needed to move to a place where my family didn’t have to worry about me, and I could continue my life’s work,” Jean says.

“This is the best move I ever made.”

What surprised you the most about community living? When someone here asks me, “How are you?” I know they mean it. If someone hasn’t seen you in a few days, they check on you. Team members know me by name, and dining services know my food preferences. I feel so secure and supported, and that’s a terrific feeling!

What is your advice to others considering a life plan community? Downsize early. And don’t wait too long. You can miss out on all of the wonderful benefits if you wait.

Dan

Helping Others Helps Him Find His Place

Dan doesn’t seek the spotlight. Soft-spoken and thoughtful, he prefers showing up, helping and quietly staying busy. But spend a little time with him, and it’s clear that his life story — and the life he’s building now at The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens — is anything but quiet.

A Marine Corps veteran who served during the Vietnam era, Dan later spent decades as a deputy sheriff in Alameda County. Service has always been central to his life — and it still is today.

Three days a week, Dan volunteers at Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center as a greeter and navigator, helping people find their way to appointments and ease their stress. “It gives me something to do and keeps me busy,” he says simply — but the joy he finds in helping others is unmistakable. It was this volunteer work that led him to The Terraces.

“One of the women I volunteered with kept talking about The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens, and the more she shared, the more it made sense. I visited the community and signed up that day!”

Since moving to The Terraces, Dan’s life has become fuller and more active. “I’m doing a lot more now than where I was living before,” he says. He plays pool three times a week, darts twice a week and pinochle with a group of 16 neighbors. He walks about two miles a day around campus and enjoys the amenities, including the sauna.

At home in his two-bedroom apartment, Dan enjoys one of his favorite pastimes: tackling 500-piece jigsaw puzzles, a hobby that lets him unwind and focus after a day of volunteering.

“The camaraderie and friendliness here is off the charts,” Dan says. He appreciates how quickly team members learn names and how intentional everyone is about greeting one another. “They really stay on top of who’s who, and that is very special.”

Looking back, Dan realizes that if he hadn’t made the move to The Terraces, his life would have been quieter and perhaps a bit more isolated.

In addition to volunteering, Dan also has a passion for family genealogy, even traveling to Ireland to visit cousins and trace his lineage.

For Dan, this chapter of life isn’t about slowing down. It’s about being connected, exploring purpose and staying fully engaged — with gratitude for the friends, the community and the sense of belonging he’s found at The Terraces.

What’s surprising about The Terraces?

The size of this whole place. It’s mind-boggling! But the biggest surprise of all was the people. If I was living alone, I would be less engaged. Here, I keep myself busy. I see people. I talk to people. That makes a big difference.

How do you feel about your future since moving?

I feel positive, safe and secure. More comfortable and relaxed.

What is your advice for people interested in community living?

Don’t wait. If you have any thoughts or concerns about the future, investigate it. The longer you wait, the harder it will be.

What is the best part of living here?

I love that I don’t have to worry about maintaining my old home. No more gardening, no more pool maintenance, no more worrying about repairs. Now I just put in a request, and they fix it. That’s a big load off my shoulders.

Paul & Patty

A Gift For Crafting Joy

When Paul talks about the woodshop at The Terraces, his face lights up. It’s not just about sawdust and tools. It’s about a place where hands stay busy, minds stay sharp and generosity quietly takes shape.

When Paul and his wife, Patty, were choosing to move to a Life Plan Community, they wanted a place where creativity, connection and contribution could continue to grow.

For Paul, one amenity sealed the decision. “I came here for the woodshop,” he says simply.

What began as a personal passion quickly grew into something bigger. Alongside fellow residents, Paul helped transform the woodshop into a creative hub — upgrading the vacuum system, painting cabinets, labeling tools and organizing donated equipment. Today, it’s a place that feels intentional, respected and alive.

Throughout the year, Paul and other residents build wooden toy trucks that are donated to children at local hospitals to brighten difficult days. They repair furniture for neighbors — steadying wobbly table legs and restoring desks — and create handcrafted gifts for team members, including painted wooden Christmas trees during the holidays.

Patty is often right there beside him, adding her own artistic touch — painting pieces or working on creative projects. Around them, other shared spaces continue to evolve: A former laundromat is being reimagined as an art studio, and plans are underway for art classes that will bring even more residents together.

“I am all for anything that gets people together,” Patty says with a smile. Togetherness, in fact, has become one of the greatest gifts of community life.

Patty also serves as the treasurer of the resident council and engages in multiple fitness and social groups within The Terraces. You can find Paul hiking or regularly playing billiards at the community with a group of 10 -15 men. Patty delights in watching his transformation.

“Seeing him adjust has been the most fun and amazing part,” she says. “It gets better for him every day.”

Together, Paul and Patty tend to their garden year-round, often using their home-grown vegetables in their home-cooked meals. The two also play cards, puzzles and gather weekly with friends for dinner. Loneliness simply doesn’t fit into their calendar.

At The Terraces, Paul and Patty didn’t just find a place to live. They found space to create, to give, to belong — and a woodshop where purpose is shaped one project at a time.

Q&A:

Did you look at other communities? Yes, we explored other communities, but The Terraces felt like the right community for us. We wanted to be near family in Fresno. We had

no intention of moving to a community right away, but when the exact apartment came up and was being remodeled, we made the decision in just two days to move.

How does living at The Terraces make you feel about your future?

We feel very comfortable and happy, and there is peace of mind that comes from knowing support is available whenever we need it.

Any advice?

All Life Plan Communities are not alike. Look at the people. Talk to them. See how they interact with one another. Do it when you’re ready — but don’t wait too long.

Peggy

Stirring Up Joy and Delight

For Peggy, the kitchen has always been the heart and soul of a home.

It starts with the familiar rhythm of measuring and mixing, the warmth of an oven preheating and the quiet joy of creating something meant to be shared. Long before she and her husband, Bruce, moved to The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens, Peggy expressed love the way she knows best: through flour-dusted countertops, handwritten recipes and plates filled with homemade goodies. Making treats isn’t simply a pastime — it’s how she welcomes, thanks, celebrates and connects with others.

So, when they chose The Terraces for the next chapter of their lives, she didn’t just bring her furniture. She brought her mixer — and her generous spirit.

And she put it to use right away in their country-themed home.

About every four weeks, Peggy ties on her apron and creates sweet treats for team members and neighbors — everything from cookies to cream cheese puffs to what she affectionately calls her “unusual treats.” It’s her quiet ministry of kindness, her way of expressing gratitude and brightening someone’s day. “I just like to give food to people,” she says with a smile. “It makes them happy — and it makes me happy too.”

Her baking may be the sweetest expression of her generosity, but it’s only one ingredient in a vibrant and expanding life at The Terraces.

She has embraced new routines, including participating in fitness and balance classes. She joined the on-campus quilting group and has helped create three quilts that were auctioned to support the Benevolence Fund — another way she gives back.

True to form, Peggy didn’t leave her outside passions behind; she wove them into her new community. Her water aerobics group and two quilting groups now gather on campus, deepening connections and strengthening friendships. In fact, relationships have blossomed just as naturally as her baking routine. Peggy and Bruce are planning vacations with another couple they met here, traveling together to Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C. “We are so blessed,” she says.

Life, in many ways, has only grown richer.

Family remains at the center of Peggy and Bruce’s world. They gather every Sunday for dinner in their beautiful apartment, and she continues to host family holidays. “I’m the holiday gal,” Peggy smiles.

Looking ahead, Peggy feels a deep sense of security. “This is the place we need to be. It feels like we made our decisions for the rest of our lives, and our children will never have to make them for us. We have been blessed in more ways than we can count.”

At The Terraces, Peggy has done what she has always done best: taking simple ingredients — time, talent, generosity — and turning them into something meaningful.

Q&A:

Did you look at other communities? Yes, but from our very first tour, TSJG felt different. None carried the same feeling we felt when we first arrived on campus. There was just this positive vibe. People don’t just live here — they care about each other. It felt like a big family.

What amenities do you enjoy most?

We really enjoy swimming in the pool and the exceptional dining here. We especially love dining at the Monte Carlo, the reservation-only upscale dining experience offered on Friday and Saturday evenings.

What surprised you most about community living?

How easy it was to connect with others and how rich the social life truly is. There’s no time to be lonely here. Interaction is so important, and it just happens naturally.

What truly surprised me the most was how much my husband, Bruce, has found his rhythm in the community. He plays pool three times a week, enjoys ping-pong, hikes weekly and has performed in two variety shows. Watching him adjust has been the most fun and amazing thing.

Any advice to others considering the move? Don’t wait too long to move into a Life Plan Community. There are so many wonderful amenities and perks to enjoy: day trips, plays, exercise classes and friendships to be formed.